The Government of Canada, the City of Edmonton, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), and The Salvation Army jointly announced an investment of over $38 million to construct 175 affordable homes and beds for those battling homelessness and substance use issues in Edmonton.
Grace Village, a newly built addiction and residential care facility located at 12520 140 Avenue NW, celebrated its ribbon-cutting ceremony yesterday. The Net Zero Energy-Ready (NZER) building is in proximity to the Salvation Army’s senior residence.
It will host three major programs for Edmonton’s vulnerable population: 32 beds for the Recovery Stabilization program, 71 transitional homes for homeless individuals, and 72 supportive homes for those on the path to recovery from homelessness and substance use.
The Salvation Army will own and operate the facility. It is set to provide on-site support services like health care aides, nurses, and a program supervisor. Each resident will be assigned a dedicated case counselor to aid in their transition from entry to discharge.
This comprehensive support network will assist residents with housing, food/housekeeping, spiritual care, job searching, counseling, and skills development.
Funding for this project is a multi-faceted investment, including a $10 million forgivable loan through the National Housing Co-investment Fund and $150,000 in Seed Funding, $2.5 million from the City of Edmonton’s Affordable Housing Investment Program, $3.3 million capital grant and a matching loan through the Sustainable Affordable Housing Initiative, $8.1 million from the Salvation Army, $1.8 million in land equity, and $9 million in community donations.
The FCM funding will particularly support the NZER design of the building, optimizing equipment selection to reduce natural gas and electrical energy use. The design includes features like geothermal heating/cooling, phased-in solar panels, high-efficiency water heaters, and energy recovery ventilators.
“The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion, said, “With today’s announcement, the Government of Canada is working hard to create a safe environment where individuals can receive the necessary supports they need in order to thrive.” He further stressed that this investment underlines the National Housing Strategy’s commitment to ensuring that no one is left behind.
Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Tourism, and Associate Minister of Finance, praised the initiative as a “significant step in addressing housing demand in the Edmonton region and in Canada.” Amarjeet Sohi, Mayor of Edmonton, highlighted the project as a testament to the power of collaboration.
The National Housing Strategy (NHS) is a 10-year plan that will invest more than $82 billion to provide more Canadians with affordable housing.
BusinessNewsCanada
